The award recognizes those members of Congress who have made a marked difference in the lives of people with diabetes through support for diabetes research funding and improved clinical care.

The Congressional Diabetes Caucus was formed in 1996 and has grown to be the largest caucus in Congress, with close to 350 members in the 113th Congress. The mission of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus is to educate members of Congress and their staffs about diabetes and to support legislative activities that would improve diabetes research, education, treatment, and access to affordable insulin.

The Endocrine Society’s 2018 Diabetes Champion Award winners are being recognized for their exemplary work improving diabetes care. This includes successfully obtaining $600 million over two years for the Special Diabetes Program, a program that funds type 1 diabetes research and education and prevention programs for Alaska Natives and American Indians through the Indian Health Service. These four members of Congress also played a key role in helping to enact legislation to provide Medicare coverage for blood testing strips, glucose monitors and diabetes self-management training.

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.